January 8, 2025 • 41 mins
Happy New Year to all our listeners! On this first episode of 2025 we chat....
- Round up of FCS Championshio game between NDSU & Montana State.
- Now at CFB PlayOff semi final stage, has the 12 teams playoff format left us with the best 4 teams in CFB?
- The positive impact of the CFB Playoff on Bowl game TV viewing figures
- Final 4: Texas v Ohio State & Penn State v ND previews
- Our Predictions !!!!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're not going to comment on that. I'll get fine
for the rest of my life if I get comment
on that.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The National Championship years that young Stirl.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hey everyone, and welcome to our first episode of the
new year. Yes it's twenty twenty five. With ball season
out of the way, we turn a focus to the
college shoot all playoff semi finals which are coming to
us this week. But first we are the chaps and
I'm joined by both of my esteem colleagues, who are
the finest college show on mines east of the Mississippi.
(00:49):
It's Ollie and Alex. Happy new year to you both.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
How are you happy new Yeah? So what? I what?
And Honor have an introduction of the finest college but
one minds this side of the Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It starts. I mean to go on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I think it's absolutely beautiful. I'm going to be pedantic
to start the show because why not. Ball season technically
is still upon us because see George is absolutely rolling
is a good job on YouTube now see George rollings
oide of me. The Cotton Ball and the Orange Bowl
are part of ball season. George College football playoff semi
(01:28):
finals starting.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Starting the new calendar off with the correction in the
first minute of recording. Alex how are you? I love it?
I love it? Happy Happy new here cut Alexey.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Marry New Year, George Marry New Year.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Yeah, I'm right. I'm feeling good with my team as
the underdogs this week. You know, everyone out there saying
that it's the highest d It's national championship to lose.
Love that talk, love that talk. Only one team is
going to be disappointed on Friday, and I'm looking forward
(02:11):
to the outcome of that. I'm looking forward to talking
some playoff college football. Yeah, we very rarely get to
do multiple playoff episodes, so it's good that we have
the opportunity to sit and talk about three more games
rather than at this time of year usually talking only
about one more game of college football. So yes, very pleased.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Ale's just portrays them as dulst Tons when he talked
about college football. But before we get to the playoff games,
let's quickly talk because one championship has been decided, and
that was the SCS championship game, and it's easy to see,
well not to coutch State one again because they are
the perennial winners of that Championship. But as I'm sure
(03:02):
always going to recount to us, Montanasty are getting matey
close to them, and in the end we're quite unlucky
to lose that game, despite the fact that the Bison
can have run away with it a half time only.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, it was obviously, I mean, we've just we've talked
about in the introductions, like the college that the FBS
college football player, and normally we'd be having a podcast,
we'd be talking about the national champion. Because the FCS
Championship game took place on the Monday night of the FBS,
when the FBS normally would take place, and great sitting
(03:37):
not in competition with the NFL this year. For the
last two years it's been held on a Sunday. A
lot of people have been really angsty about that, and
rightfully so, because it's you know, it should it should be.
It should have a place in a college football canda
where everyone can sit down and just enjoy it. So
it was great that it was a standalone game this year,
and you know, Montanga State previous after Oregon's lost to
(04:01):
Ohio State, the only remaining undefeated D one college football
program and great quarterback in Tommy Mellert, great running game,
really really bold teams over this year. But like you said, Jeorge,
North Dakota State's got out to massive first first half. League.
I don't think anyone kind of at halftime and visits
(04:21):
the game going down the way that he did. But
just real heart battle in that second half from Montana
State and Tommy my Lot showing why he was the
Walt Payton FCS Player of the Year. Cam Miller maybe
in the first half showing why he should have been. Yeah,
great game, great advertisement for FTS football. North Dakota State
(04:44):
continues to be a powerhouse back at the championship winning
level after South Dakota State had won it the last
couple of years. And they've got They've got some guys
who are going to be a lot of people who
now pin their attention to the NFL Draft are going
to be hearing about in this process. You great great
ad basement for FCS football. And you know a lot
(05:07):
of people thinking maybe college football playoffs we tamper around
with how many teams should be, maybe they should follow
the FCS model of the playoff, which has been significantly
different and has produced awesome playoff spectacles for the past
few years.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Look, I know all he's set you up there with
a really good segue, but I'm going to jump in
and ruin the ruin it. I didn't watch the I
didn't watch the game. I can barely keep up with
FBS football rather than including FCS football. But I have
some strong opinions on things. Obviously it's me for those
(05:44):
not watching on YouTube. I am sporting a mullet, so
I feel like I'm qualified to talk about this part
of America. Number One, we need to rename the FCS
Championship games to the Militia Bowl because it's always contested
by states in which half the population is part of
some anti government militia. And two to the people saying
(06:08):
that North Dakota State need to step up to FBS,
fuck off, No they don't. They are the most FCS
football program I've ever seen in my life. Stay FCS, right,
you could. You could step up and just lose all
kind of relevancy right at the minute. People talk about
you for one night a year, which is the FCS
(06:31):
Championship Game. If you step up, people might talk about
you for six months and then obscurity. Right if they
step up, where they're going to go Mountain West. There's
some there's some California schools there, there's some schools that
don't really screen North Dakota State. To me, right, I
(06:53):
think stay fcs, keep winning national championships, build this in
edible resume, become something that ESPN decides to do with
thirty for thirty or in thirty time.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I'm now very unsure whether there's a bunch of people
in Fargo screaming at the screen, either in a complete agreement,
although I'm not sure about that. Are there now chucking
things at the screen. Certainly it will have divided opinion
in Fargo, which at this moment time will be very
very cold. Indeed, so they.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Almost as cold as it is here, almost as cold
as it is here.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You're in the tropical South, Alex. It can't possibly be
that cold in the tropical South unless you've not turned
your heating on, which is which is more than a right. Listen,
we're going to pull this back round because Allie did
give me a nice segment. He teed it up just perfectly,
and then Alex just throw all to ship. Now have
to now have to press a expletive button on the
(07:59):
on the uploader, So thank you for that. Right, So
we are going to talk about the if we've got
any time left, we're going to talk about the semi finals.
But before we did, I just wanted to get your
thoughts on the fact that Allie said this at the top.
We're now back to four teams, which is what we're
(08:20):
more used to, right is through the previous playoff system,
And I just wondered, has the twelve team playoff got
us to the point where we do indeed have the
four best college football teams in the land, or it's
that irrelevant now that we've entered into tournament play, right
(08:44):
And we on this side of the Atlantic are well
used to your tournament player in the way that it
works out, and it's a very different beast. So I
just wondered if you had any kind of thoughts on
all the four teams. And I'm not trying to start
any controversy or stir things up or in with that,
I'm generally not, but I do wonder how do you
(09:05):
think it's worked.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Well. I think we all know Kirby smart things that
at least half of the teams that I had to
buy into the quarter final stage of the College Football
Playoff didn't deserve to be there. So I would argue
that he probably doesn't feel like we've got the four
best team. Look, I think what the great thing about
this college football Playoff and the four teams that we've
got left the question here is that I don't really
(09:30):
think anyone knows who was the best college football team
in twenty twenty four. And I think that is absolutely awesome.
I nearly swore then, I nearly gave you an excuse
to having the Rex Fleet in.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
It doesn't matter one as much as you want, as.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Much as I want, and we'll get no more guests
from the SBN back. I think this is the thing, right, So,
I think I don't think anyone knows who the best
team in college football was this year. I think that's awesome.
And I think if you look I had this conversation
earlier on today with someone, I think, if you look
at the four teams that are on the table or
(10:04):
on the field, whereever you want to say these next
two days, I think you can make a great case
that any of them can win the college football National Championship.
And again, I think that's great. I think it's a
great advertisement of a sport. I think you could pick
parts of each team and argue that it makes them
(10:24):
one of the best teams in college football. But as
to say these four teams are the best, I don't know.
But I don't think it matters. I think we've had
We've had it despite the results, despite the pontificating and
mud slinging and name calling and who are in and
(10:46):
media backlash and social media backlash and all this jazz.
I think we've had a great college football player. And
I think that's all the matter, right. We wanted a
great spectacle at the end of the season. You want
a great postseason tournament, and that's what we've got. And
if results full the way, Oregon can call themselves a
national champion because of the Cooley Matrix or one of
(11:07):
those matrixes they used to decide forty seven different national
unclaiming champions or claim champions, you know, claims themselves as
a two thousands and whatever champion, go ahead and do
it by various metrics. But we've had a great college
football playoff, and the NCAA doesn't actually recognize anyone but
North to go to status with D one college football champion.
(11:29):
So are they the best team in the country.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
He who knows Until we have an FCS that's FBS
Champion Bowl.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I think that's what we should be when we should
hold it in we should hold it in the center
of European college football London.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Absolutely, I think on this playoff right, you almust miss
him from last year. They're so refreshing that it's not here.
Is that whining from the team that was ranked fifth.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
You got it from the teams that were ranked Like.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
But if you're ranked if you're ranked thirteen, if you're
ranked thirteenth and you lose to Michigan in your bowl game,
I don't know if they were ranked thirteenth or not,
I can't remember off the top of my head. But
if you're out of the college football playoff and then
you lose to Michigan in your bowl game, don't deserve
don't have a chance to moan go away. If you
(12:28):
lost in the first round or the second round of
this playoff, you don't get a chance to moan because
you had your chance to win it to go away. Right,
four teams here, only Penn State have a sniff of
fraud about them because they haven't got a big win
so far this year, the.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Complete frauds between got into that point yet, and I'm
starting to steam's coming. They're completely fraudulent, and the.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Sniff of fraudulents about them, I'd also argue, and I
might get some hating Austin for the Texas have a
sniff of fraud about them because they lost to Georgia twice.
But I think there are the four four of, if
not the fore most interesting teams in college football this
(13:16):
year in this two games, in these semi finals. I
think this new playoff, plus the transfer port or breaking
the dominance of the SEC, and really just Georgia, Alabama
and LSU has been fantastic for college football. I think
(13:38):
it's so much better when everyone's a two lost team.
I think it creates intriguing and interesting matches rather than
one team steamroller in everyone and you know they're going
to be in the National Championship game are probably going
to win it. I think that this has been the
best college football season for some time because you don't
(14:01):
know who's going to win on an a weekly basis.
And I'm not just talking about the mediocre teams in
the middle of their major conferences. I mean the team's
right at the top of the major conferences. You don't
know if they're going to win or lose every week. Right,
there's two teams here, probably the two teams that are
going to play in the National Championship game. One loss
to NIU early in the year and one loss to
(14:24):
its rival, who was historically bad for most of this year,
although they did beat Alabama in a bowl game. But like,
it's just it's interesting for the first time, and I
think it's interesting for outsiders for the first time because
you don't have to be a nerd who knows everything
(14:45):
about the third string quarterback on the top teams to
understand who's going to win the national championship every year.
The fact is you don't know who's going to win
the national championship every year anymore. And that's amazing. It
makes it so much more watchable, makes it so much
more fun to follow as a fan. Like, it's good
(15:06):
when we don't know what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, just out of it, just out of interest. How
did Alabama get on in the ball game? I'm not sure.
I'm sure Ali's mentioned it at all in that monumental
monumental soliloquy.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
He's got his he's got his bingo card, and he's
crossed it off three times now, which you know. But
this is why you are the finest college shoble minds
east of the Mississippi, right, because you pick up on
two fantastic points. First one being, Alex, You're right, this
has been the best college football season we probably have
(15:44):
seen in our watching time, and therefore probably certainly in
recent times, probably the best college football season that we've
had a post war. Right, big statement to make, but
I find it hard to believe how it wouldn't be.
And the second point, although you made about we didn't
(16:06):
know who the best team in the SEC was, well
that that's been entirely right from the get go, and
a lot of that has been down to Alex said
already about one lost team became a two loss team
became a three loss team, right. It was in previous
seasons with a one loss that was it, you're out right,
it was almost like one and you're done. And I
thought the mentality changed this seasonal and a lot of
(16:27):
teams and they had to get to that point where
the water was trying to get to into that that
that top twelve. But I know there's been a lot
of criticism out the SEC and and a lot of
it wholly justified, to be honest, But we don't know
that we've got the best team in the Big Ten
as a champion either, right, because we look at the
way that those those dice have tumbled, you know, Michigan
(16:48):
beat Ohio State, Oregon beat Ohio State, Ohio State beat Oregon,
Penn State, Penn State beat nobody, do you know what
I mean? It's like the whole the whole way through
it's been it's been really difficult. And then then you
just have to go to the other conferences and Arizona
State for having say it, who probably could easily have
(17:09):
you know, if they if they'd won their game, could
could easily turn out to have been the best team
in college at all. And if he doesn't win the
Bear Brian Coach of the Year award, then we might
as well just tear it up and walk away because
Kenny Dillingham, as we said in this podcast before, has
done the most incredible job. That's my slowly quite over right,
(17:32):
we're never going to keep this to under the thirty minutes,
but we will try our hardest, just very quickly. I
picked up on some social media chatter today that viewing
figures for the bowl games in totality are up on
prior years, which suggests two things. One backs Alex claim
(17:55):
that this is the best college football season in the
longest time, but also that the College shot Well Playoff
has kind of resurrected some interest in football posts the
conference championship games. Would you agree with that statement?
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Alex felt like he was going to say something. I
was just going to stay majestically quiet and swoop in.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
I'm not editing that. I'm just going to leave that
long pause for dramatic effect.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
See.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I don't think the games are any better. I just
think that the sport is there's more people interested at
this time of year because twelve teams rather than four
have fans that are interested. So more of those guys
are going to watch and say, guys, I mean everyone,
not just men. Obviously, more of those people are going
(18:53):
to watch the bowl games, even with their teams not
in them, because they've got something to prepare for. They've
got a reason to watch those games. Right, So you've
got something coming up, your team's still involved, you're invested
you're not turned off tinnd Away like so many people
have been.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yeah, I think there's there's there's an element of a
point that I was going to make that comes under
that is we are considered that four of the New
Year's six bowl games, which would ordinarily have been just
bowl games, not just ball games, because there are obviously
the New Years six games were markeuee games, but four
of those bowl games this year were college FOOTBA playoff
(19:35):
quarter final games. So the number of the viewing figures
for those will have been I imagine I don't know
the nittygreeam the specifics of each for each bowl game,
but you've got to imagine that viewing figures for those
New Year's six games the four that maybe up a
quarter final will have been higher. But I think it's
I think that there was there was a lot of
storylines I think still kicking around in ball season, and
(19:57):
some of that was helped by nil. If you look
at Colorado and in a year where like two of
their best players are going to be top draft picks,
ordinarily you would not have seen a team like Colorado
field two players like Travis Hunter and Shide Sanders like
(20:18):
people wanted to watch the Alamobile because it was a
bit a good story of BYU this year with Jake
rex Laugh at quarterback and how they went about kind
of overcoming some of their preseason expectations against the Colorado
team that was coached by Dion Sanders that featured Shideo Sanders,
Travis Hunter, whole host of other talent but ordinarily wouldn't
have played in that game. It was an intriguing underlying
(20:40):
storyline with that with the insurance, the insurance at Colorado
had got specifically four of them to playing that Bowl game,
and there was there was multiple Bowl games and how
the NIL specific opportunities for players that didn't opt out
of the game, and I think it helped. There was
there was certainly a lot of players who did opt
(21:00):
out games. There's a certain a lot of players who
were in the transfer portal who didn't play in game.
But it felt like this year there was a lot
less like proper what I would call proper opt outs
where people just went, now, I'm not playing in the
ball game. All missed for example, like the example the
leadership example of Jackson Dart. Jackson Dart early on in
the process, when I'm playing in the Bowl game, I
(21:23):
want to play for all missing a ball game, and
a lot of that team followed suit, and I think
that really helped the ball season this year. There was
some great matchups, great teams, and still some great players
kicking around to playing those games. And you know, when
you've had a super exciting college football season as well,
that builds momentum for next year. And like we talked
about it, I think with twenty eighteen LSU in that
(21:46):
bowl game of twenty nineteen Fiesta Bowl where they like
that Joe Burrow really set the scene for that twenty
nineteen LSU team in the bowl game the year before,
and people want to see that, like a rock o'beck
in the Iowa stateside. People want to see how they
build that momentum going into twenty twenty five. And I
think it's just there's a lot of things going on
that that made ball season just that just seem that
(22:09):
little bit extra special this year. And at the end
of the day, it's how many how often do you
get from our side of the pond a Monday game
that kicks off at four pm, Like the opportunity to
just like people in this country coming back from work
on the ball game, Like I think it's there's a
lot of things that play into it, but I think
(22:30):
it's been a great ball season.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I didn't get the sense that it was post season games,
if that makes any sense. And it can doptails back
into the point you made about the college football playoff
being expanded, and yeah, and I think I think other
teams like Homeless is a good example, had a point
to prove or wanted to prove the point that because
they had a start the thirteen seeds, that felt that
(22:56):
they should have been into the College show playoffs. So
I think there was a collector of right, we're going
to show them. Sadly, Alabama didn't follow suit in that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I don't think. I didn't think as well there was
I don't think there was any like teams like you
remember Florida last year where their players clearly just didn't
give a toss. They were like they just weren't. I
don't think there was Excuse me, I don't think there
was any performances like that where they were just like
just down Backlida last year.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Yeah, and that's what I mean. I think I think they,
you know, the season was continuing as opposed to the
season has ended. We've got to play this last game
and then then then we're off. It was like the
season was was continuing, right. Let's let's quickly get onto
the We've built all the way up to the semi
finals and we've got like two minutes to talk about them.
Let's leave what I think is the bigger of the
(23:49):
two games to the end. Let's talk about Penn State
against the Irish. The Irish are slight favorites in this game.
I think they're two and a half point favorites. It
looked very impressive against Georgia. Back to what we said
(24:10):
about who was the best team in the SEC, it
was very difficult to understand who was which Georgia team
was going to turn up at any one time. But
I thought Notre Dame were very impressive. And goes back
to the conversation that you and I only had with
Laura where both of you were hyping Notre Dame up
(24:31):
over on. This is forty five and a half points.
I have to say so far that it's been all
about the under in most of these games. Do we
see I stand by my comment. I think Pensley are
just complete frauds in this process. But do we stand
do we stand by the fact that Notre Dame are
going to win this or does anyone see a shock
(24:51):
coming here?
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I think it is a difficult game to call, honestly.
I think there was moments in the Penn State Boys
to State game where Drew Alla looked like the guy
that he's always meant to be. I like you felt
like he would pick apart any defense. I think defense
(25:14):
isn't just any defense. I think there's something and this
is just just unfathomable and unimaginabble for people who have
listened to this podcast since we started six years ago.
I think there's something special about not Today this year
and the defense I think. I don't think there's a
better defense in the country. I think the way they
(25:36):
play offensive football isn't pretty, but it's effective. And I
think if if Jeremiah Love is healthy, like Penn State
have got great rushing defense, but so did Army, and
look what Notre Dame did to Army, I think there's
the potential for them to run over any team that
they face. And defensively, I don't think Penn State have
(25:59):
got it all there to compete against the decent defense
and We've seen it in the big games this year
for them. Ohio State's defense is really good and Penn
State could not they couldn't lie with it. And the
Oregon's defense, which was brutally exposed against Ohio State, was
good and they and Penn State couldn't couldn't keep up
with with Oregon's offense. And I just think the vibe
(26:24):
of everything around there today and right now feels like
They've got great leaders on the field, They've got a
great leader on the sideline and Marcus Free and it
just feels like this if it's not this year, and
we've talked about this in previous years with teams, it's
felt like it's either their year this year in it,
or it isn't. I feel like not Todame, it is
kind of that program this year.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
I'm going to say something that's a win win right now.
If not, I don't even get the double digit points
they win this game right now. Either this comes out
two ways. Either this is a scoring bonanza of a
game which we all get to enjoy and I look
like a bit of an idiot, or Notre Dame wins
(27:07):
ten to three and I look like a genius. Genius,
so thank me later when I look like an idiot
and you've all enjoyed a phenomenal game. But I do
think that Notre Dame's defense I agree with you, Olie.
I think they're too good. I think Drew a lot
is a really good quarterback, has a lot of potential
(27:28):
to be a really good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
I think he is.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Carrying around a giant stone necklace named Franklin. I just
I think Penn State is dogged by bad coaching. I
think they have the potential, and if that offense clicks,
(27:51):
it could be trouble for Notre Dame. You know, if
they can somehow find a way to somewhat contain Riley Lend,
it could be a problem for Notre Dame. Right, everything
in the Notre Dame offense has come through Leonard in
recent games. It did in that game against Georgia. You know,
they had to kick a lot of field goals, and
(28:12):
they had to get themselves into obviously field goal range
a lot to score and be successful in that one.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
But I just think, you.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Know, there's there's a number of ways this could go
wrong for Notre Dame. Right When yes, they they scored
two touchdowns against Georgia, and yes, you know one of
those was a kick return, not a kick return. Their
kicker made three field goals from forty plus yards to
(28:44):
win that game. There's that's a really good performance and
they're a really well coached team. But when it goes
wrong for Notre Dame, it's going to be spectacularly bad.
And that's the one hang up I have with this
team and then winning a national championship. I think they're
probably the best team left in the Coup in the playoffs,
(29:09):
but I think they have a really low flow and
I kind of wonder if they're going to hit that
floor at some point in the next two games.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It's how they cope with the event in terms of
the actual experience. The magnitude is rising game one game
and I thought they coped really well with the Georgia game.
Did you say two explosive plays either side of the
half or what sealed it? And but the truth of
(29:38):
the matter is that Georgi will never look like getting
back into the game once they got that lead, which
is a sign of how Notre Dame had just taken
stranglehold of the game. But for me, Penn State historically
typically has a good defense. I just don't think the
offense is up too much. So you know, if they
can stop Notre Dame, then we get into the realms
(30:00):
of what you were talking about, you know, a ten
to three game. But I spent a lot of today
with kind of sports TV and radio on in the background,
and there's a lot of people saying that they think
that this is a year that Notre Dame can win
the national championship, which would be certainly would not have
been on many Bengo cards at the start of this season.
(30:21):
But standing in their way are two teams who have
I think they met expectations finally this year at Ohio
State in Texas. Ohio State just seemed like a team
who have picked up form at the right time. And
I don't mean that to be disingenuous, but throughout the season,
(30:41):
for me, they've not looked like the team they are now.
So I just wonder our Ohio State peaking at the
right time, which is back to the tournament play we
were talking about earlier on and kin Texas, who have
been at times dominant this season and at other times
they look a little bit you know, open to some sensibilities.
(31:05):
Could sensitivity. Sorry, could Taxas beat Ohio State? Do we think.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
They can certainly go go and win that game. I
kind of agree with everyone. I don't think their favorite
for this game right now. I don't think there's a
more informed team than Ohio State right now. In these
two games they've they've completely dominated two good teams in
Tennessee and Oregon. But I think I don't think that
(31:37):
Texas's offense is one dimensional as Oregons is or was
in that game. And I think that Texas's defense is
better than Oregon's defense. So I don't think Ohio State
is going to be able to dominate the game in
the way they have these last two. I also don't
think Texas is going to be able to dominate the
(31:57):
game the way they have in some of the high
profile losses this year. Right they come out, they dominate
that first half against Arizona State that year, you know,
everyone thinks they're home and dry and they relax, and
I don't think they're going to be put in a
position to do that in this game. I think it's
going to be a power for pound slug for slug
(32:18):
heavyweight fight of a semi final, And I think if
Texas has to go play for play with Ohio State
because neither defense can stop anyone, I think that suits
a higher state. I think they have slightly more high
powered offensive pieces, But if it's a defensive battle, I
(32:40):
think Texas is the only team out there. You know,
Night Aime probably close as well. Yeah, those three, I
think they're the three with in terms of talent level
that can actually match o Higo State for talent on
that defensive side of the ball, and I think it
will be a bit of a slug fest. I think
people that come in expecting points from this one are
(33:03):
going to be a little bit surprised because I think
this is a defensive battle. I think the whole National
Championship is it's a bit of a change from recent years.
But I think this whole National Championship run and these
next three games are going to be defensive battles. They're
going to be low scoring, They're going to be lots
of playmaking in the trenches. It's going to be a
(33:25):
case of which offensive lines can hold up against these
defensive lines, these monstrous defensive lines that the four teams
left have. I think there's going to certainly be a
case for whoever can run the ball the best gives
themselves a good opportunity, a good chance to win a
(33:46):
national championship, because I think you've got three four pretty
good quarterbacks, but there's not that standout. Oh, they're going
to go and put the team on their back and
win in the way we've seen in years past, and
you know the way we saw with Joe Burrow and
Trevor Lawrence and some of these other guys that have
(34:07):
been in and won national championships in recent years. So
I do think it's almost back to the old school Alabama,
early Saban period of our quarterbacks. All Right, he's a
bit of a game manager. He'll get us there, but
our defense is going to win. So they're not going
to let you score more than ten points kind of
(34:30):
run to a national championship.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Only the fact that this is on the doorstep of
the University of Texas the scheme, does that have any
beating on us at all?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yeah, I think it'd be. I think it'd be foolish
to say no, it has no bearing because there is
obviously there's a certain ticket allocation to the University of Texas.
There's a certain allocation of tickets to the University of
Ohio State University. Too many universities in there, and then
the other tickets have got to go somewhere else, and
(35:08):
we've seen the I guess the one downside of the
college football Playoff experience is some of the games are
a little bit further from home, some of the games
are a little bit close together. Have had some ticketing issues.
I don't think you're struggling to sell any tickets in
the Cotton Bowl with the big, good people of Texas
(35:31):
on the doorstep. So I think there could be a
few Texas fans in there on Friday night, and I
think that could that could make a difference, could make
a difference. What I would say is everything I mean,
everything Alex said was perfectly and eloquently put. I think
this is a college football national championship in the Para semifinals,
(35:52):
which is a battle of attrition, and I think if
you look at who is the healthiest when it comes
to those trench battles that were expect I think that
could be a big storyline on Friday. It could even
be a big storyline to Marrow night. If Abdall Carter
doesn't play with Penn State for example, but certainly when
it comes to Texas Ohio State, if those two offensive
tackles either can't start or can't play to the best
(36:15):
of their ability for Texas against that Ohio State defensive
front that did what it did to Oregon. I think
that could be the story because Ohio State has had
those issues early on. They've you know, they lost Josh
Simmons two injury, they lost sept McLachlan to a injury.
They had to regroup and rebuild earlier in the season.
(36:36):
That's I think why you see them being so successful now.
They've got that offensive line cohesion with guys who have
had to come up, step up, and step up to
the big moment late in the year. They've had that
growth and maturity time and Texas are going to bring it.
Have potentially two guys starting at offensive tackle who have
got very little experience against a team that has got
(36:58):
such a really good, strong defense. Different that was going
to be a fascinating storyline. See kind of a last
man standing wins kind of kind of theory. It could
be that kind of national championship.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
In a couple of weeks time heavy beat boxing match.
So talking about National Championship just very quickly because we
have massively overrun. Again, only w heard the two teams
that you're going to see in the National Championship on
the twentieth of Chanioning.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Not today, Man, the University of Texas.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
We're tasting Ali Well.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
I say this, I was so impressed by what q
News did at the end of that game. I don't
think Will Howard's got that in it if it comes
to a slug fest like I think Quinny is, and
Will Howard's been talked trash throughout his career. He talked
about it this week about being under overlooked and disrespected.
I think you saw against Arizona State right there at
(37:53):
the very end, Quinn News isn't the greatest quarterback, isn't
the plage star guy everyone thought he was going to be.
But when you put him in the best of moments,
that's when he plays it his best. And I think
that could be pivotal on Friday. And so Nolamus is
the University of Texas for me.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Thanks for those two words, Sally. I do apologize. If
your commute to work was thirty five minutes, someone now
forty two minutes into this, a good.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Chance you live in England, you're waiting for a train
replacements stuck.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
If it's it's snowed overnight, people aren't commuting tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
If it snows as badly in Dallas, Fort Worth is
meant to, you might be still listening to this when
the cotton bul kicks up on Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
Indeed, Alex, who are you expecting to see? Heart overhead?
Head over heart? Who do you who do you think
will be playing on the Janey the twentieth.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
I'm pretty confident Notre Dame I we're going to be there.
I really don't know. In the other game. I it's
almost as too close to cool. So I'm gonna let
my heart run my head and agree with Oli and
say the University of Texas, Yeah, I agree with Oli.
(39:11):
I think quinn Ewers was unreal at the end of
that game. I think that there's a little known fact
that's been doing the rounds today that one member of
Ohio State's twenty twenty one recruiting classes beaten Michigan in
their college career, and that man is Quinnyrs. And I
(39:34):
think it's the ultimate revenge game. And that's almost a
point that's not not been made that much this week.
But I think it almost works both ways in that
for Ohio State it's a bit of a revenge game
against Queen Ewers as well. And I think I'm just
(39:56):
I'm really excited and I'm really gutted that I'm not
going to be able to stop and watch its. We've
got a game the next day, and you know, I'm
going to wake up on Saturday morning and I'm going
to be happy or I'm going to be nervous because
(40:17):
of the type of person I am, and I don't
need more anxiety over a sports team in my life.
I'll do that for living.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
So the kickoff times are not are not helpful to us,
That's that's for sure. But we've got we've got, We've
got used to that. I think the one thing the
National Championship Game really needs to avoid is and two
teams from the same conference plague. And I know I
say that firmly in the view that I know that
two SEC teams have bled, but I think it's much
more attractive if you've got two teams that typically don't
(40:48):
play off against each other. So whoever it is, I
just don't want to be Oi State and Penn State.
Speaker 4 (40:56):
If no a day makes it, then it's going to
be an intriguing now Snow Championship game. They go get
the job done.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
I don't disagree. Right, we're knocking down a forty five
minute so most of our listeners have given up by now,
and I've tried through the snow to get to the office.
That's all for us in this episode. It's been awesome
talking nonsense around the microphone. Again, I will keep this
outro very short. Thanks again to Alex Norlie for the
Britain put. Thanks for listening, Stacey, if we will to
catch you the next time.
You're not going to comment on that. I'll get fine
for the rest of my life if I get comment
on that.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
The National Championship years that young Stirl.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hey everyone, and welcome to our first episode of the
new year. Yes it's twenty twenty five. With ball season
out of the way, we turn a focus to the
college shoot all playoff semi finals which are coming to
us this week. But first we are the chaps and
I'm joined by both of my esteem colleagues, who are
the finest college show on mines east of the Mississippi.
(00:49):
It's Ollie and Alex. Happy new year to you both.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
How are you happy new Yeah? So what? I what?
And Honor have an introduction of the finest college but
one minds this side of the Mississippi.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
It starts. I mean to go on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
I think it's absolutely beautiful. I'm going to be pedantic
to start the show because why not. Ball season technically
is still upon us because see George is absolutely rolling
is a good job on YouTube now see George rollings
oide of me. The Cotton Ball and the Orange Bowl
are part of ball season. George College football playoff semi
(01:28):
finals starting.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Starting the new calendar off with the correction in the
first minute of recording. Alex how are you? I love it?
I love it? Happy Happy new here cut Alexey.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Marry New Year, George Marry New Year.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Everyone.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
Yeah, I'm right. I'm feeling good with my team as
the underdogs this week. You know, everyone out there saying
that it's the highest d It's national championship to lose.
Love that talk, love that talk. Only one team is
going to be disappointed on Friday, and I'm looking forward
(02:11):
to the outcome of that. I'm looking forward to talking
some playoff college football. Yeah, we very rarely get to
do multiple playoff episodes, so it's good that we have
the opportunity to sit and talk about three more games
rather than at this time of year usually talking only
about one more game of college football. So yes, very pleased.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Ale's just portrays them as dulst Tons when he talked
about college football. But before we get to the playoff games,
let's quickly talk because one championship has been decided, and
that was the SCS championship game, and it's easy to see,
well not to coutch State one again because they are
the perennial winners of that Championship. But as I'm sure
(03:02):
always going to recount to us, Montanasty are getting matey
close to them, and in the end we're quite unlucky
to lose that game, despite the fact that the Bison
can have run away with it a half time only.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, it was obviously, I mean, we've just we've talked
about in the introductions, like the college that the FBS
college football player, and normally we'd be having a podcast,
we'd be talking about the national champion. Because the FCS
Championship game took place on the Monday night of the FBS,
when the FBS normally would take place, and great sitting
(03:37):
not in competition with the NFL this year. For the
last two years it's been held on a Sunday. A
lot of people have been really angsty about that, and
rightfully so, because it's you know, it should it should be.
It should have a place in a college football canda
where everyone can sit down and just enjoy it. So
it was great that it was a standalone game this year,
and you know, Montanga State previous after Oregon's lost to
(04:01):
Ohio State, the only remaining undefeated D one college football
program and great quarterback in Tommy Mellert, great running game,
really really bold teams over this year. But like you said, Jeorge,
North Dakota State's got out to massive first first half. League.
I don't think anyone kind of at halftime and visits
(04:21):
the game going down the way that he did. But
just real heart battle in that second half from Montana
State and Tommy my Lot showing why he was the
Walt Payton FCS Player of the Year. Cam Miller maybe
in the first half showing why he should have been. Yeah,
great game, great advertisement for FTS football. North Dakota State
(04:44):
continues to be a powerhouse back at the championship winning
level after South Dakota State had won it the last
couple of years. And they've got They've got some guys
who are going to be a lot of people who
now pin their attention to the NFL Draft are going
to be hearing about in this process. You great great
ad basement for FCS football. And you know a lot
(05:07):
of people thinking maybe college football playoffs we tamper around
with how many teams should be, maybe they should follow
the FCS model of the playoff, which has been significantly
different and has produced awesome playoff spectacles for the past
few years.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Look, I know all he's set you up there with
a really good segue, but I'm going to jump in
and ruin the ruin it. I didn't watch the I
didn't watch the game. I can barely keep up with
FBS football rather than including FCS football. But I have
some strong opinions on things. Obviously it's me for those
(05:44):
not watching on YouTube. I am sporting a mullet, so
I feel like I'm qualified to talk about this part
of America. Number One, we need to rename the FCS
Championship games to the Militia Bowl because it's always contested
by states in which half the population is part of
some anti government militia. And two to the people saying
(06:08):
that North Dakota State need to step up to FBS,
fuck off, No they don't. They are the most FCS
football program I've ever seen in my life. Stay FCS, right,
you could. You could step up and just lose all
kind of relevancy right at the minute. People talk about
you for one night a year, which is the FCS
(06:31):
Championship Game. If you step up, people might talk about
you for six months and then obscurity. Right if they
step up, where they're going to go Mountain West. There's
some there's some California schools there, there's some schools that
don't really screen North Dakota State. To me, right, I
(06:53):
think stay fcs, keep winning national championships, build this in
edible resume, become something that ESPN decides to do with
thirty for thirty or in thirty time.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I'm now very unsure whether there's a bunch of people
in Fargo screaming at the screen, either in a complete agreement,
although I'm not sure about that. Are there now chucking
things at the screen. Certainly it will have divided opinion
in Fargo, which at this moment time will be very
very cold. Indeed, so they.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
Almost as cold as it is here, almost as cold
as it is here.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
You're in the tropical South, Alex. It can't possibly be
that cold in the tropical South unless you've not turned
your heating on, which is which is more than a right. Listen,
we're going to pull this back round because Allie did
give me a nice segment. He teed it up just perfectly,
and then Alex just throw all to ship. Now have
to now have to press a expletive button on the
(07:59):
on the uploader, So thank you for that. Right, So
we are going to talk about the if we've got
any time left, we're going to talk about the semi finals.
But before we did, I just wanted to get your
thoughts on the fact that Allie said this at the top.
We're now back to four teams, which is what we're
(08:20):
more used to, right is through the previous playoff system,
And I just wondered, has the twelve team playoff got
us to the point where we do indeed have the
four best college football teams in the land, or it's
that irrelevant now that we've entered into tournament play, right
(08:44):
And we on this side of the Atlantic are well
used to your tournament player in the way that it
works out, and it's a very different beast. So I
just wondered if you had any kind of thoughts on
all the four teams. And I'm not trying to start
any controversy or stir things up or in with that,
I'm generally not, but I do wonder how do you
(09:05):
think it's worked.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Well. I think we all know Kirby smart things that
at least half of the teams that I had to
buy into the quarter final stage of the College Football
Playoff didn't deserve to be there. So I would argue
that he probably doesn't feel like we've got the four
best team. Look, I think what the great thing about
this college football Playoff and the four teams that we've
got left the question here is that I don't really
(09:30):
think anyone knows who was the best college football team
in twenty twenty four. And I think that is absolutely awesome.
I nearly swore then, I nearly gave you an excuse
to having the Rex Fleet in.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
It doesn't matter one as much as you want, as.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Much as I want, and we'll get no more guests
from the SBN back. I think this is the thing, right, So,
I think I don't think anyone knows who the best
team in college football was this year. I think that's awesome.
And I think if you look I had this conversation
earlier on today with someone, I think, if you look
at the four teams that are on the table or
(10:04):
on the field, whereever you want to say these next
two days, I think you can make a great case
that any of them can win the college football National Championship.
And again, I think that's great. I think it's a
great advertisement of a sport. I think you could pick
parts of each team and argue that it makes them
(10:24):
one of the best teams in college football. But as
to say these four teams are the best, I don't know.
But I don't think it matters. I think we've had
We've had it despite the results, despite the pontificating and
mud slinging and name calling and who are in and
(10:46):
media backlash and social media backlash and all this jazz.
I think we've had a great college football player. And
I think that's all the matter, right. We wanted a
great spectacle at the end of the season. You want
a great postseason tournament, and that's what we've got. And
if results full the way, Oregon can call themselves a
national champion because of the Cooley Matrix or one of
(11:07):
those matrixes they used to decide forty seven different national
unclaiming champions or claim champions, you know, claims themselves as
a two thousands and whatever champion, go ahead and do
it by various metrics. But we've had a great college
football playoff, and the NCAA doesn't actually recognize anyone but
North to go to status with D one college football champion.
(11:29):
So are they the best team in the country.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
He who knows Until we have an FCS that's FBS
Champion Bowl.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
I think that's what we should be when we should
hold it in we should hold it in the center
of European college football London.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Absolutely, I think on this playoff right, you almust miss
him from last year. They're so refreshing that it's not here.
Is that whining from the team that was ranked fifth.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
You got it from the teams that were ranked Like.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
But if you're ranked if you're ranked thirteen, if you're
ranked thirteenth and you lose to Michigan in your bowl game,
I don't know if they were ranked thirteenth or not,
I can't remember off the top of my head. But
if you're out of the college football playoff and then
you lose to Michigan in your bowl game, don't deserve
don't have a chance to moan go away. If you
(12:28):
lost in the first round or the second round of
this playoff, you don't get a chance to moan because
you had your chance to win it to go away. Right,
four teams here, only Penn State have a sniff of
fraud about them because they haven't got a big win
so far this year, the.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Complete frauds between got into that point yet, and I'm
starting to steam's coming. They're completely fraudulent, and the.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
Sniff of fraudulents about them, I'd also argue, and I
might get some hating Austin for the Texas have a
sniff of fraud about them because they lost to Georgia twice.
But I think there are the four four of, if
not the fore most interesting teams in college football this
(13:16):
year in this two games, in these semi finals. I
think this new playoff, plus the transfer port or breaking
the dominance of the SEC, and really just Georgia, Alabama
and LSU has been fantastic for college football. I think
(13:38):
it's so much better when everyone's a two lost team.
I think it creates intriguing and interesting matches rather than
one team steamroller in everyone and you know they're going
to be in the National Championship game are probably going
to win it. I think that this has been the
best college football season for some time because you don't
(14:01):
know who's going to win on an a weekly basis.
And I'm not just talking about the mediocre teams in
the middle of their major conferences. I mean the team's
right at the top of the major conferences. You don't
know if they're going to win or lose every week. Right,
there's two teams here, probably the two teams that are
going to play in the National Championship game. One loss
to NIU early in the year and one loss to
(14:24):
its rival, who was historically bad for most of this year,
although they did beat Alabama in a bowl game. But like,
it's just it's interesting for the first time, and I
think it's interesting for outsiders for the first time because
you don't have to be a nerd who knows everything
(14:45):
about the third string quarterback on the top teams to
understand who's going to win the national championship every year.
The fact is you don't know who's going to win
the national championship every year anymore. And that's amazing. It
makes it so much more watchable, makes it so much
more fun to follow as a fan. Like, it's good
(15:06):
when we don't know what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, just out of it, just out of interest. How
did Alabama get on in the ball game? I'm not sure.
I'm sure Ali's mentioned it at all in that monumental
monumental soliloquy.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
He's got his he's got his bingo card, and he's
crossed it off three times now, which you know. But
this is why you are the finest college shoble minds
east of the Mississippi, right, because you pick up on
two fantastic points. First one being, Alex, You're right, this
has been the best college football season we probably have
(15:44):
seen in our watching time, and therefore probably certainly in
recent times, probably the best college football season that we've
had a post war. Right, big statement to make, but
I find it hard to believe how it wouldn't be.
And the second point, although you made about we didn't
(16:06):
know who the best team in the SEC was, well
that that's been entirely right from the get go, and
a lot of that has been down to Alex said
already about one lost team became a two loss team
became a three loss team, right. It was in previous
seasons with a one loss that was it, you're out right,
it was almost like one and you're done. And I
thought the mentality changed this seasonal and a lot of
(16:27):
teams and they had to get to that point where
the water was trying to get to into that that
that top twelve. But I know there's been a lot
of criticism out the SEC and and a lot of
it wholly justified, to be honest, But we don't know
that we've got the best team in the Big Ten
as a champion either, right, because we look at the
way that those those dice have tumbled, you know, Michigan
(16:48):
beat Ohio State, Oregon beat Ohio State, Ohio State beat Oregon,
Penn State, Penn State beat nobody, do you know what
I mean? It's like the whole the whole way through
it's been it's been really difficult. And then then you
just have to go to the other conferences and Arizona
State for having say it, who probably could easily have
(17:09):
you know, if they if they'd won their game, could
could easily turn out to have been the best team
in college at all. And if he doesn't win the
Bear Brian Coach of the Year award, then we might
as well just tear it up and walk away because
Kenny Dillingham, as we said in this podcast before, has
done the most incredible job. That's my slowly quite over right,
(17:32):
we're never going to keep this to under the thirty minutes,
but we will try our hardest, just very quickly. I
picked up on some social media chatter today that viewing
figures for the bowl games in totality are up on
prior years, which suggests two things. One backs Alex claim
(17:55):
that this is the best college football season in the
longest time, but also that the College shot Well Playoff
has kind of resurrected some interest in football posts the
conference championship games. Would you agree with that statement?
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Alex felt like he was going to say something. I
was just going to stay majestically quiet and swoop in.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
I'm not editing that. I'm just going to leave that
long pause for dramatic effect.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
See.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I don't think the games are any better. I just
think that the sport is there's more people interested at
this time of year because twelve teams rather than four
have fans that are interested. So more of those guys
are going to watch and say, guys, I mean everyone,
not just men. Obviously, more of those people are going
(18:53):
to watch the bowl games, even with their teams not
in them, because they've got something to prepare for. They've
got a reason to watch those games. Right, So you've
got something coming up, your team's still involved, you're invested
you're not turned off tinnd Away like so many people
have been.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Yeah, I think there's there's there's an element of a
point that I was going to make that comes under
that is we are considered that four of the New
Year's six bowl games, which would ordinarily have been just
bowl games, not just ball games, because there are obviously
the New Years six games were markeuee games, but four
of those bowl games this year were college FOOTBA playoff
(19:35):
quarter final games. So the number of the viewing figures
for those will have been I imagine I don't know
the nittygreeam the specifics of each for each bowl game,
but you've got to imagine that viewing figures for those
New Year's six games the four that maybe up a
quarter final will have been higher. But I think it's
I think that there was there was a lot of
storylines I think still kicking around in ball season, and
(19:57):
some of that was helped by nil. If you look
at Colorado and in a year where like two of
their best players are going to be top draft picks,
ordinarily you would not have seen a team like Colorado
field two players like Travis Hunter and Shide Sanders like
(20:18):
people wanted to watch the Alamobile because it was a
bit a good story of BYU this year with Jake
rex Laugh at quarterback and how they went about kind
of overcoming some of their preseason expectations against the Colorado
team that was coached by Dion Sanders that featured Shideo Sanders,
Travis Hunter, whole host of other talent but ordinarily wouldn't
have played in that game. It was an intriguing underlying
(20:40):
storyline with that with the insurance, the insurance at Colorado
had got specifically four of them to playing that Bowl game,
and there was there was multiple Bowl games and how
the NIL specific opportunities for players that didn't opt out
of the game, and I think it helped. There was
there was certainly a lot of players who did opt
(21:00):
out games. There's a certain a lot of players who
were in the transfer portal who didn't play in game.
But it felt like this year there was a lot
less like proper what I would call proper opt outs
where people just went, now, I'm not playing in the
ball game. All missed for example, like the example the
leadership example of Jackson Dart. Jackson Dart early on in
the process, when I'm playing in the Bowl game, I
(21:23):
want to play for all missing a ball game, and
a lot of that team followed suit, and I think
that really helped the ball season this year. There was
some great matchups, great teams, and still some great players
kicking around to playing those games. And you know, when
you've had a super exciting college football season as well,
that builds momentum for next year. And like we talked
about it, I think with twenty eighteen LSU in that
(21:46):
bowl game of twenty nineteen Fiesta Bowl where they like
that Joe Burrow really set the scene for that twenty
nineteen LSU team in the bowl game the year before,
and people want to see that, like a rock o'beck
in the Iowa stateside. People want to see how they
build that momentum going into twenty twenty five. And I
think it's just there's a lot of things going on
that that made ball season just that just seem that
(22:09):
little bit extra special this year. And at the end
of the day, it's how many how often do you
get from our side of the pond a Monday game
that kicks off at four pm, Like the opportunity to
just like people in this country coming back from work
on the ball game, Like I think it's there's a
lot of things that play into it, but I think
(22:30):
it's been a great ball season.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I didn't get the sense that it was post season games,
if that makes any sense. And it can doptails back
into the point you made about the college football playoff
being expanded, and yeah, and I think I think other
teams like Homeless is a good example, had a point
to prove or wanted to prove the point that because
they had a start the thirteen seeds, that felt that
(22:56):
they should have been into the College show playoffs. So
I think there was a collector of right, we're going
to show them. Sadly, Alabama didn't follow suit in that.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I don't think. I didn't think as well there was
I don't think there was any like teams like you
remember Florida last year where their players clearly just didn't
give a toss. They were like they just weren't. I
don't think there was Excuse me, I don't think there
was any performances like that where they were just like
just down Backlida last year.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Yeah, and that's what I mean. I think I think they,
you know, the season was continuing as opposed to the
season has ended. We've got to play this last game
and then then then we're off. It was like the
season was was continuing, right. Let's let's quickly get onto
the We've built all the way up to the semi
finals and we've got like two minutes to talk about them.
Let's leave what I think is the bigger of the
(23:49):
two games to the end. Let's talk about Penn State
against the Irish. The Irish are slight favorites in this game.
I think they're two and a half point favorites. It
looked very impressive against Georgia. Back to what we said
(24:10):
about who was the best team in the SEC, it
was very difficult to understand who was which Georgia team
was going to turn up at any one time. But
I thought Notre Dame were very impressive. And goes back
to the conversation that you and I only had with
Laura where both of you were hyping Notre Dame up
(24:31):
over on. This is forty five and a half points.
I have to say so far that it's been all
about the under in most of these games. Do we
see I stand by my comment. I think Pensley are
just complete frauds in this process. But do we stand
do we stand by the fact that Notre Dame are
going to win this or does anyone see a shock
(24:51):
coming here?
Speaker 2 (24:53):
I think it is a difficult game to call, honestly.
I think there was moments in the Penn State Boys
to State game where Drew Alla looked like the guy
that he's always meant to be. I like you felt
like he would pick apart any defense. I think defense
(25:14):
isn't just any defense. I think there's something and this
is just just unfathomable and unimaginabble for people who have
listened to this podcast since we started six years ago.
I think there's something special about not Today this year
and the defense I think. I don't think there's a
better defense in the country. I think the way they
(25:36):
play offensive football isn't pretty, but it's effective. And I
think if if Jeremiah Love is healthy, like Penn State
have got great rushing defense, but so did Army, and
look what Notre Dame did to Army, I think there's
the potential for them to run over any team that
they face. And defensively, I don't think Penn State have
(25:59):
got it all there to compete against the decent defense
and We've seen it in the big games this year
for them. Ohio State's defense is really good and Penn
State could not they couldn't lie with it. And the
Oregon's defense, which was brutally exposed against Ohio State, was
good and they and Penn State couldn't couldn't keep up
with with Oregon's offense. And I just think the vibe
(26:24):
of everything around there today and right now feels like
They've got great leaders on the field, They've got a
great leader on the sideline and Marcus Free and it
just feels like this if it's not this year, and
we've talked about this in previous years with teams, it's
felt like it's either their year this year in it,
or it isn't. I feel like not Todame, it is
kind of that program this year.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
I'm going to say something that's a win win right now.
If not, I don't even get the double digit points
they win this game right now. Either this comes out
two ways. Either this is a scoring bonanza of a
game which we all get to enjoy and I look
like a bit of an idiot, or Notre Dame wins
(27:07):
ten to three and I look like a genius. Genius,
so thank me later when I look like an idiot
and you've all enjoyed a phenomenal game. But I do
think that Notre Dame's defense I agree with you, Olie.
I think they're too good. I think Drew a lot
is a really good quarterback, has a lot of potential
(27:28):
to be a really good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
I think he is.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Carrying around a giant stone necklace named Franklin. I just
I think Penn State is dogged by bad coaching. I
think they have the potential, and if that offense clicks,
(27:51):
it could be trouble for Notre Dame. You know, if
they can somehow find a way to somewhat contain Riley Lend,
it could be a problem for Notre Dame. Right, everything
in the Notre Dame offense has come through Leonard in
recent games. It did in that game against Georgia. You know,
they had to kick a lot of field goals, and
(28:12):
they had to get themselves into obviously field goal range
a lot to score and be successful in that one.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
But I just think, you.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Know, there's there's a number of ways this could go
wrong for Notre Dame. Right When yes, they they scored
two touchdowns against Georgia, and yes, you know one of
those was a kick return, not a kick return. Their
kicker made three field goals from forty plus yards to
(28:44):
win that game. There's that's a really good performance and
they're a really well coached team. But when it goes
wrong for Notre Dame, it's going to be spectacularly bad.
And that's the one hang up I have with this
team and then winning a national championship. I think they're
probably the best team left in the Coup in the playoffs,
(29:09):
but I think they have a really low flow and
I kind of wonder if they're going to hit that
floor at some point in the next two games.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
It's how they cope with the event in terms of
the actual experience. The magnitude is rising game one game
and I thought they coped really well with the Georgia game.
Did you say two explosive plays either side of the
half or what sealed it? And but the truth of
(29:38):
the matter is that Georgi will never look like getting
back into the game once they got that lead, which
is a sign of how Notre Dame had just taken
stranglehold of the game. But for me, Penn State historically
typically has a good defense. I just don't think the
offense is up too much. So you know, if they
can stop Notre Dame, then we get into the realms
(30:00):
of what you were talking about, you know, a ten
to three game. But I spent a lot of today
with kind of sports TV and radio on in the background,
and there's a lot of people saying that they think
that this is a year that Notre Dame can win
the national championship, which would be certainly would not have
been on many Bengo cards at the start of this season.
(30:21):
But standing in their way are two teams who have
I think they met expectations finally this year at Ohio
State in Texas. Ohio State just seemed like a team
who have picked up form at the right time. And
I don't mean that to be disingenuous, but throughout the season,
(30:41):
for me, they've not looked like the team they are now.
So I just wonder our Ohio State peaking at the
right time, which is back to the tournament play we
were talking about earlier on and kin Texas, who have
been at times dominant this season and at other times
they look a little bit you know, open to some sensibilities.
(31:05):
Could sensitivity. Sorry, could Taxas beat Ohio State? Do we think.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
They can certainly go go and win that game. I
kind of agree with everyone. I don't think their favorite
for this game right now. I don't think there's a
more informed team than Ohio State right now. In these
two games they've they've completely dominated two good teams in
Tennessee and Oregon. But I think I don't think that
(31:37):
Texas's offense is one dimensional as Oregons is or was
in that game. And I think that Texas's defense is
better than Oregon's defense. So I don't think Ohio State
is going to be able to dominate the game in
the way they have these last two. I also don't
think Texas is going to be able to dominate the
(31:57):
game the way they have in some of the high
profile losses this year. Right they come out, they dominate
that first half against Arizona State that year, you know,
everyone thinks they're home and dry and they relax, and
I don't think they're going to be put in a
position to do that in this game. I think it's
going to be a power for pound slug for slug
(32:18):
heavyweight fight of a semi final, And I think if
Texas has to go play for play with Ohio State
because neither defense can stop anyone, I think that suits
a higher state. I think they have slightly more high
powered offensive pieces, But if it's a defensive battle, I
(32:40):
think Texas is the only team out there. You know,
Night Aime probably close as well. Yeah, those three, I
think they're the three with in terms of talent level
that can actually match o Higo State for talent on
that defensive side of the ball, and I think it
will be a bit of a slug fest. I think
people that come in expecting points from this one are
(33:03):
going to be a little bit surprised because I think
this is a defensive battle. I think the whole National
Championship is it's a bit of a change from recent years.
But I think this whole National Championship run and these
next three games are going to be defensive battles. They're
going to be low scoring, They're going to be lots
of playmaking in the trenches. It's going to be a
(33:25):
case of which offensive lines can hold up against these
defensive lines, these monstrous defensive lines that the four teams
left have. I think there's going to certainly be a
case for whoever can run the ball the best gives
themselves a good opportunity, a good chance to win a
(33:46):
national championship, because I think you've got three four pretty
good quarterbacks, but there's not that standout. Oh, they're going
to go and put the team on their back and
win in the way we've seen in years past, and
you know the way we saw with Joe Burrow and
Trevor Lawrence and some of these other guys that have
(34:07):
been in and won national championships in recent years. So
I do think it's almost back to the old school Alabama,
early Saban period of our quarterbacks. All Right, he's a
bit of a game manager. He'll get us there, but
our defense is going to win. So they're not going
to let you score more than ten points kind of
(34:30):
run to a national championship.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
Only the fact that this is on the doorstep of
the University of Texas the scheme, does that have any
beating on us at all?
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yeah, I think it'd be. I think it'd be foolish
to say no, it has no bearing because there is
obviously there's a certain ticket allocation to the University of Texas.
There's a certain allocation of tickets to the University of
Ohio State University. Too many universities in there, and then
the other tickets have got to go somewhere else, and
(35:08):
we've seen the I guess the one downside of the
college football Playoff experience is some of the games are
a little bit further from home, some of the games
are a little bit close together. Have had some ticketing issues.
I don't think you're struggling to sell any tickets in
the Cotton Bowl with the big, good people of Texas
(35:31):
on the doorstep. So I think there could be a
few Texas fans in there on Friday night, and I
think that could that could make a difference, could make
a difference. What I would say is everything I mean,
everything Alex said was perfectly and eloquently put. I think
this is a college football national championship in the Para semifinals,
(35:52):
which is a battle of attrition, and I think if
you look at who is the healthiest when it comes
to those trench battles that were expect I think that
could be a big storyline on Friday. It could even
be a big storyline to Marrow night. If Abdall Carter
doesn't play with Penn State for example, but certainly when
it comes to Texas Ohio State, if those two offensive
tackles either can't start or can't play to the best
(36:15):
of their ability for Texas against that Ohio State defensive
front that did what it did to Oregon. I think
that could be the story because Ohio State has had
those issues early on. They've you know, they lost Josh
Simmons two injury, they lost sept McLachlan to a injury.
They had to regroup and rebuild earlier in the season.
(36:36):
That's I think why you see them being so successful now.
They've got that offensive line cohesion with guys who have
had to come up, step up, and step up to
the big moment late in the year. They've had that
growth and maturity time and Texas are going to bring it.
Have potentially two guys starting at offensive tackle who have
got very little experience against a team that has got
(36:58):
such a really good, strong defense. Different that was going
to be a fascinating storyline. See kind of a last
man standing wins kind of kind of theory. It could
be that kind of national championship.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
In a couple of weeks time heavy beat boxing match.
So talking about National Championship just very quickly because we
have massively overrun. Again, only w heard the two teams
that you're going to see in the National Championship on
the twentieth of Chanioning.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
Not today, Man, the University of Texas.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
We're tasting Ali Well.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
I say this, I was so impressed by what q
News did at the end of that game. I don't
think Will Howard's got that in it if it comes
to a slug fest like I think Quinny is, and
Will Howard's been talked trash throughout his career. He talked
about it this week about being under overlooked and disrespected.
I think you saw against Arizona State right there at
(37:53):
the very end, Quinn News isn't the greatest quarterback, isn't
the plage star guy everyone thought he was going to be.
But when you put him in the best of moments,
that's when he plays it his best. And I think
that could be pivotal on Friday. And so Nolamus is
the University of Texas for me.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Thanks for those two words, Sally. I do apologize. If
your commute to work was thirty five minutes, someone now
forty two minutes into this, a good.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Chance you live in England, you're waiting for a train
replacements stuck.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
If it's it's snowed overnight, people aren't commuting tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
If it snows as badly in Dallas, Fort Worth is
meant to, you might be still listening to this when
the cotton bul kicks up on Saturday night.
Speaker 3 (38:34):
Indeed, Alex, who are you expecting to see? Heart overhead?
Head over heart? Who do you who do you think
will be playing on the Janey the twentieth.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
I'm pretty confident Notre Dame I we're going to be there.
I really don't know. In the other game. I it's
almost as too close to cool. So I'm gonna let
my heart run my head and agree with Oli and
say the University of Texas, Yeah, I agree with Oli.
(39:11):
I think quinn Ewers was unreal at the end of
that game. I think that there's a little known fact
that's been doing the rounds today that one member of
Ohio State's twenty twenty one recruiting classes beaten Michigan in
their college career, and that man is Quinnyrs. And I
(39:34):
think it's the ultimate revenge game. And that's almost a
point that's not not been made that much this week.
But I think it almost works both ways in that
for Ohio State it's a bit of a revenge game
against Queen Ewers as well. And I think I'm just
(39:56):
I'm really excited and I'm really gutted that I'm not
going to be able to stop and watch its. We've
got a game the next day, and you know, I'm
going to wake up on Saturday morning and I'm going
to be happy or I'm going to be nervous because
(40:17):
of the type of person I am, and I don't
need more anxiety over a sports team in my life.
I'll do that for living.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
So the kickoff times are not are not helpful to us,
That's that's for sure. But we've got we've got, We've
got used to that. I think the one thing the
National Championship Game really needs to avoid is and two
teams from the same conference plague. And I know I
say that firmly in the view that I know that
two SEC teams have bled, but I think it's much
more attractive if you've got two teams that typically don't
(40:48):
play off against each other. So whoever it is, I
just don't want to be Oi State and Penn State.
Speaker 4 (40:56):
If no a day makes it, then it's going to
be an intriguing now Snow Championship game. They go get
the job done.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
I don't disagree. Right, we're knocking down a forty five
minute so most of our listeners have given up by now,
and I've tried through the snow to get to the office.
That's all for us in this episode. It's been awesome
talking nonsense around the microphone. Again, I will keep this
outro very short. Thanks again to Alex Norlie for the
Britain put. Thanks for listening, Stacey, if we will to
catch you the next time.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com